Why, the Hell is this only on the girl? As usual it is the girl’s fault. let the girl and her parents deal with this. There are so many more important things going on in this world right now. CNN, please stick with the news that matters. You are becoming more and more like The National Enquirer everyday.

Isn’t the age of the guy who knocked her up relevant? If the guy is 18 or over, this is grounds for a statutory rape charge, under the law. Do you realize how many 18+ african-american males are in jail for this kind of thing? This is an issue that must be looked into!

its unfortunate that its palin’s daughter. sarah palin is a public figure now. That means that everything that happens to her or her family is public matter. they say that she is a conservative but not conservative enough to teach her 17 year old daughter that premarital sex is not conservative at all.

I could not agree more. This young lady does not seem to be aware that her mother is in such a public arena. Did Mom have the “talk” with Bristol…maybe she did not have time with so many other things on her mind. What will she do when she lives in Washington????

what do expect from book burners and that like to see women bare footed and pregent this mentally of GOP and call it family vaues

You are correct Amy, this should be considered a family matter and be left at that. However, neither side should poiticize this matter or make comments about her doing the right thing. The reason this happens in all families is because we are all human. Enough said.

Hello Amy,

Children of political hopefuls or incumbents should be off limits to scrutiny. Bristol’s situation should be a private matter handled only among her family. Just because Sarah Palin’s daughter made an error in judgment does not mean that her mother, Sarah, has inherent erros in judgment. The Democrats and the media should pick another topic to discuss and move on.

Regards,

Nate

What I know or don’t know about Briston Palin does not concern me not should it. Dragging Bristol into the Media Spotlight is not what I call concern.

On the other hand, what I know about Sarah Palin does concern me. This issue gave me a much larger insight into the chosen Republican VP. In my view, she shows shows no compassion or concern for Bristol as a mother. in my view, if she was truly concerned about her daughter she would have put the VP offer on the back burner. Any woman knows that having a baby demanding so much care and attention and a pregnant teen is not the time for demanding political aspirations! Sarah’s lack of experience for the position of VP and her lack of concern for her family are the two reasons I find McCain’s choice for VP appalling! In addition, it appears she hasn’t clued in that she was only chosen to snag Hillary Voters. Not a great reason to put your family last! She should take a few lessons on motherhood from Joe Biden the caring, loving father who was willing to give up a Senator’s position care for his sons!

The fact that Sarah Palin’s daughter is pregnant is proof that one piece of the Republican Platform-abstinence only-doesn’t work. If she had had proper sex education, she may have been going to college next year without a baby and without having to choose a life partner in such a hurry. I wish her all the best.

Amy, cmon. I love your reporting, but this is over the top. Let’s take the focus off the young girl. She was already facing the most challenging situation of her young life and now it’s been magnified by her own mother’s lack of judgment. Both Sarah Palin and John McCain knew what was going to happen here and they decided it was no big deal. Palin sacrificed her own daughter for political gain, it’s sickening. This is not about sex education, or contraception, or teenage pregnancy. The issue here is that both McCain and Palin were naive enough to think this would just slide under the radar. It shows a massive lack of judgment and character.

If you are a youngster living in Juneau you certainly know first hand how babies are born.

You learn it in elementary school when the teacher takes you right outside your classroom to the closed creek during the salmon run and you watch how the salmon react in spawning. And you learn it from the experience of a host of other wildlife examples expanding their kind nature’s oldest format for specie population enlargement..

You don’t have to teach SEX EDUCATION when you see it naturally so often. The same with American farm girls . . . it’s a natural knowledge of life.

Sex ed is taught in all schools along with abstinence. The teen pregnancy rate has risen to it’s highest since 1991. So it seems this method of teaching isn’t doing the job. We need to come up with something better. But the bottom line is it’s up to the kids to practice it, the parents can’t force them.

Bristol’s pregnancy is no ones business. So why another post on it? Like Amy says…if you want to dig up dirt how about Edwards extra marital affair, or Obama’s ties to Joe Biden’s lobbyist son through earmarks, or Obama’s ties to Rezco and that whole debacle that was swept under the rug and not looked at. Hounding a teen for being pregnant is ridiculous.

Cindy…Ga.

I have to disagree with Amy on this one. It IS an issue because Sarah Palin does not believe in sex ed in schools, which would teach children about STD’s contraception, and about the issues young high school women face if they were to have a child at 17. Her daughter now being pregnant goes against the very argument she is trying to make, that sex ed is not necessary. This is very different than talking about the stupid choices a married Ex Senator makes about cheating on his wife.

Barak Obama made a great point when he says we need to REDUCE the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. Without proper sex education, this will never happen. So this very topic is the exact thing we should be talking about. Whether we should be talking specifically about Sarah Palin’s daughter, we live in a country with free speech, and Sarah Palin decided to put herself and her entire life in the world spotlight, so its all fair game.

Yes, Palin’s daughter having a baby is a private matter. However, her mother threw Bristol into the spotlight when she decided to accept the VP nomination. If I were 17 years old and having a baby out of wedlock , I would be so angry at my mother for doing this to me. I believe Sarah Palin is very ambitious and her love for her family comes second ! Let’s face it, she has a child with special needs and a daughter that really needs her right now. Is she ready or capable of being VP at this time. This country is in a real crossroads right now and we need someone who can be committed 100%. While Palin has done some great things, many people are questioning her character (read the blogs). I find it hard to believe that someone on Palin’s staff would try to get Palin’s ex brother-in-law fired without getting permission from the boss….c’mon. This country has been duped by the Bushes for a long time so maybe McCain and his advisors thinks the public will fall for anything. I believe Sarah Palin should take care of her special needs child and hold her daugher’s hand during this crisis and not run for VP of the United States. McCain underestimated the women in this country and he should know that women will not vote for Palin just because she is a women. Women admired Hillary because she was an amazing mother and did great things for this country AND NOT JUST BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN.

Lucky for the baby her mother is pro life… even if Obama considers a child punishment…

It’s nice to see how the unity and change camp attacks not only women but girls as well…

Nice…

Ummm. She is NOT the oldest of 5 children!

She has an older brother…….

Let’s also take note that she could have taken the “easy” way out of her situation…..and had an abortion.
I do not condone pre-marital sex…but am happy at her stand to keep her baby and marry the father.

Just this past year….it was a big yeehaw for Jamie Lynn Spears pregnancy. Teenagers that play big people games get big people consequences. Let’s do our part and help young people make right choices.

In my opinion, teenage pregnancy is a complicated issue all over the world. It is an economic concern, it is a health concern, it is a social concern . It raises questions
, I think about the “real value” of life. Why do the republicans dummy up every important , complicated issue of our times?
Is a young mother with family responsibiliites herself, who still has not completed even one term in her office as govenor, now just up and leaving them both ? Is she really a serious minded, commtitted, problem solver or is she just an assertive pretty face with a superficial, underdeveloped world view?

I look at Sarah Palin as another Harry Truman.

Remember the buck stops her Harry! I see Sarah Palin as a person like Harry Truman, who will not shirk her duties. Who will not be backed down by the Good Ole Boys.
I say give her a chance. She might be just what we need in Washington
MC

Where are the posts on Sarah Palin’s husband, or is she a single mother?

Some of you people make me sick. Quick to point the finger and demoralize the Palin family. Wake up. You mothers out there thinking your children are angels who are saving it for marriage…get a clue. You’re adolescent is more than likely one of the ones actively engaging in sex. The overwhelming majority of late teenagers are having sex. That’s a fact. Look it up.
My parents were extremely active in my teens, but I messed up and got my girlfriend pregnant. Yes, I was taught all the “abstinance is the only 100% effective birth control!!!” bull, but that goes right out the window when you leave that classroom. Don’t act like it doesn’t either. Odds are that most of you blogging had premarital sex…shocker isn’t it…That doesn’t make me a bad person, or a rebelious hellion brought up in an irresponsible household, it made me-and continues to make me a responsible, loving father who would put my son Titus before anyone else in the world.
So stop pointing the finger, and look at the positives Palin could bring to the table, not her family’s personal issues. They are PERSONAL, and none of our or the media’s business.

Getting pregnant is avoidable. Sex is for having children (as we can see, again) and that should be taught first and foremost. Abstain or at most don’t have intercourse. Have other kinds of sex, if you cannot control yourself. It is not an accident. We choose to procreate, to create life.
I am not going to vote for McCain and Palin. He is old and dumped his wife for the rich queen. He was a bomber pilot not a general so that does not make him President. The trickle down theory is NOT working and so many Republicans are selfish and judgemental.
I voted for Bush but not G.O.P. again.
I have no problem with Sarah herself. She could be in a Presidential cabinet. But she is not qualified as a Presidential candidate.
Just my opinion.

Not everybody in a family agrees on everything; some family members vote republican and others democrat.

You know if this had been anyone else maybe it would not be an issue. We have to hold people who run our country to high esteem.
Saying this is nothing. Well, what you are saying to the children of the country. “It’s all right to get pregnant”. It’s ok to have children raising children. Her mother should be ashamed of her selfish self for putting her daughter through all of this mess. If she did’t know. How can she run a country with No common sense.
We know Mccain is Senile what’s her excuse?
Come on I dare you to answer this

It doesn’t bother me so much that Bristol Palin is pregnant. What bothers me is that her mother knowingly put her out on the world’s stage. This morning I saw pictures on the internet of Bristol with alcohol all around her in a number of photos. Um…where are the parents?

Amy, get a life.

Amy, you are right.

It’s none of our business. It’s a family matter, and hopefully they are allowed to handle it as such without the prying eyes of the world watching. May God bless them in this trying time.

Obama/Biden ‘08

The republican party is really out of touch.

I think they really don’t know that we are really experienced intelligent human beings.

We have all been through some things. Don’t mean we will go along with stupid stuff. We aren’t stupid. DAH!

We are not turning the white house into a convalesant home and romper room or a perscription dope den.

But does the daughter really have a choice to keep the child and marry the father. According to her mother I would venture to say no. So is it really supporting her when the mother is making the decision for the child and the rest of her life.

Maybe she did it to get attention from her mother!

Why would she allow her self to become pregnant and not care.
Maybe her mothers political life style has taken its toll on the family.

Its almost the same question you would ask a PK…the pressure sometimes it to great and they snap.

This is what happens when you don’t want to have sex-ed taught in the schools.

why would mrs palin daughter be off limits. when the media went after obama spritual life i thought that it was personal to. the only way to test the water you have to turn the knob is it hot or cold.

I don’t think this should be news…what her mother is doing is news. Just because they have high profile parents doesn’t mean they have bad parenting methods or that they are incompetent. It simply means that at one point Ms. Palin had sex and got pregnant, she is not the only one and won’t be today or any other day.

What ever happened to to reporting important things instead of gossip or trivial crap? Old newspaper articles include the entirity of presidential speeches and important news and information about the people and their world. Why do we need to know about a pregnancy, or a car accident or whatever is going on? If a person, who is in a public position, is inhibiting their ability to perform their duties/activities that may be news. But what their families do is mostly private, so leave it that way.

If we want to turn someone’s personal life into a teachable moment, may I suggest John Edwards?

Good try, Amy, but John Edwards is not advocating government scrutiny and control of female uteruses, as Sarah Palin is.

Well Brenda-
first of all, it’s not “all right”. It’s ” alright”.
Sen Palin is not is not a “selfish self”…or whatever. She has just been offered the most prestigious honor she has probably ever received. This is not an offer to be manager at Burger King. This is the VP. Would you turn it down if you were in her position? I have my guess at that.
She isn’t responsible for putting her daughter through anything, it was her daughter’s choice to lay down, so the repercussions are her own.
McCain probably possesses ten times the political and governmental knowledge of the average American citizen (which would include YOU). Sooo, if he is old and senile, what does that make us? Uneducated? Ignorant?

Answer that.

According to news reports ( hopefully accurate) the young man in question is Levi Johnston who is 18 years old from Wasilla Alaska, who’s birthday would be in Febuary according to his myspace page, so if Bristol is 5 months pregnent and a minor at time of conception then the would mean he broke the law, unless the laws are different in Alaska. So it seems to me mom was not mindful of who her daughter was dating or that she was having sex, or how old her boyfriend is. I feel bad for that young girl and the path she is taking or the path her parents are making her take, maybe she dosen’t have a choice. But if her boyfriend was sleeping with a underage girl then that is a crime.. If McCain new all this before hand then he knew the spotlight it would get…So whos is looking out for Bristol?

First on Gov Palin: She threw her daughter under the bus! What did she think would happen to Bristol when this came out should she be the VP candidate? Something that should have been a private family matter is now front page news, thanks to Mom, the hypocryt who is against sex education and contraception in Alaska schools.

Next, McCain: As his first major decision he choose a woman who had been Mayor of a town of 9000, one year Governor of a state of 600,000 (the size of Phily), meanwhile he’s a 72 year old, 4 time cancer survivor. Now, surprise, she’s under investigation by her own sate leg and her 17 year old is pregnant and he knew? Unbelievable!

Teen pregnancy can happen to the best of families. It’s a private matter. Also, I’m amused that people think Palin can’t handle the responsiblities of being a good mother while serving as VP. I haven’t heard one person question whether Obama can be a good father if he is elected. I’m certain that Obama won’t abandon his kids for the Oval Office and the same will be true for Palin.

Sarah Palin brought those children up on stage with her and introduced them. Told everyone about her baby with DS, about her son about to go to Iraq. SHE brought her children into this, knowing her poor daughter would be exposed eventually. With that blanket laying over her to hide her pregnancy, she knew the press would go back to those photos. I find it appalling that she exposed and used her family in this way! Oh, and now it is a family matter. Notice the McCains dont bring Megan on the stage this election, they should have advised Palin to do the same. It is disgusting!

I agree that CNN is becoming a tabloid. Since when do its commentators make statements such as”Tracking the latest rumors”. A comment made yesterday on Wolf Blitzers show. The rumors in question related to the Palins 4 month old baby. What a disgrace. Sorry I do not remember the commentators name.

True the children of the candidates should be off limits but this speaks more to the values or lack there of, of the mother. She advocates that she’s pro-life but does not support sex education. Doesn’t appear to support contraceptives but obviously condones minors having sex. I don’t think she should have to switch sides on the abortion issue but should, at this point, be more willing to support sex education in schools.

Personally, if I were Palin I would be completely embarrassed to have this happen when I’m supposedly a pro-this and anti-that type of candidate. It’s ridiculous. I’m also wondering if the 4 year old “son” is not in fact her grandson.

It does not matter to the major of the US what her daughter does
sexually. it does matter in the respect that she is not following
christian values that is part of her story.
I just wonder how palin can do her job with so many kids still to take care of and be a good mother.

As to her experience as governor of Alaska.

We need to remind the country that George bush as also a governor
and look what happened to our country and what the world thinks of the US. All turned out to be the worst story possible.

She is only there to give republicans a story. Nothing else.

What are you talking about? Sex ed is taught in schools. They even pass out condoms in some and we still have an increase in teen pregnancies. In my opinion its the constant bombardment of sex in every aspect of our lives, ie:movies, magazines, tv ads and on and on. I saw a promo of a new tv series coming up in the fall that quite frankly appalled me. The promo showed a picture of the young teens that will be in the series and it is no wonder that so many young people think being sexy is more important than having character.

Why are we talking about Sarah Palin’s daughter and this very private family matter, instead of talking about Gov Palin’s affilation with a group that believes Alsaka should be it’s own country? I had never heard of the Alaska Indepence Party before this morning. And after a simple gooogle seach I was amazed to hear Sarah Palin addressing this group at their polital convention. Who’s in charge of vetting John McCain’s judgement?

It’s a bit disturbing how this has gotten so much attention in the news…and how much it’s spoken about.
All I’ve heard about in the past few days is Bristol’s pregnancy, and Gustav.

I can understand that people want to know anything about everything about the people who will be in charge of their country, but come on people… there’s got to be a line drawn as to what the limits are of how much you should know about a person’s life.

of course it says a lot about this woman on how she raises her daughter if she’s 17, unmarried, and pregnant… but who else is perfect? who raises their children without any mistakes?
And let’s be honest here… her daughter is of an age where she can make her OWN choices! It’s not as if her mother had anything to do with her daughter’s choice in the first place.
All a woman can do is raise her child as best as she can, and hope that she makes the right choices.

Whether you teach sex-ed, provide free condoms, or teach abstinence, sex is part of human nature. There is no contraceptive that is 100 percent guaranteed to prevent a pregnancy, only abstinence does that. Maybe Amy prefers bringing back chastity belts?

Sarah Palin’s bio indicates that her firstborn was conceived before she was married. Her firstborn was born 8 months after they eloped. Unless he was a premie, like mother, like daughter.

Sarh Palin appears to be a strong woman and a good mom and noone in the public arena should criticize her otherwise.

But for me the preganant daughter issue is not so much a poor reflection on Sarah Palin but moreso on the Republican party and their moral agenda. Although I wholeheartedly agree with the party’s economic principles, its religous dogma based moral outlook is too great an obstacle for my vote when the party itself is full of hypocrisy.

When I hear Terry McCollugh say that nothing more will energize the Repbulican female base than an attack on Palin gets me thinking - thats what it takes to energy the base? Does that mean the the party’s platform is does not?

My vote and confidence for McCain is rapidly diminishing.

Doug wrote:

“Do you realize how many 18+ african-american males are in jail for this kind of thing?”

Quite a few, I have no doubt, with many more free and knocking up more underage girls. For some reason, the media only seems to be interested in white underage mothers, even though the illegitimacy rate among blacks is almost 80% (Bob Herbert, “A Dubious Milestone,” NY Times, 6/21/2008).

HELLO, everybody!!! Fornication, is a sin. Bristol’s pregnancy is her parents fought if they fail to tell her about sex. So this is not only the girl fought but that of the parents and the farther of her child along with his parent. It doesn’t bother me so much that Bristol Palin is pregnant. I could care less. However, it does bother me that her mother is running for VP of the US. We are a Country known for setting examples and others countries live by the examples we set. We attack Iraq, Russia attack Georgia. We run up a tillion plus debt, China refuses to lend us any more money. See Country known for our examples.

This woman is very selfish, how can she accept the position knowing her daughter is pregnant. How can she campaign and be of support to her daughter she has made a very private matter about her family international news. I feel sorry for her 17 year old daughter. Children commit suicide and become deeply depressed over comments made on the internet at myspace etc.. how much more so on national television, radio, newspapers and the internet.
This is not her time to shine shame on her

Like mother, like daughter. I’m not sure why no one is talking about this, but here we go……. Apparently, Bristol Palin is following in her mother’s footsteps. If you do the math, you’ll find that Sarah Palin’s first child (son Track Palin) was conceived out of wedlock. Sarah and her husband were married in late August, 1988. Their son Track was born in April, 1989. Meaning, Sarah Palin and her husband conceived their son Track sometime around June, 1988 (a good two months before they were married). So, did Sarah Palin and her husband elope because as she put it, “they didn’t have enough money.” Or, did they elope because Sarah was already pregnant? It seems that Sarah Palin isn’t being quite honest with the American people. Did the McCain camp do a thorough job of vetting Palin?

Sounds like Sarah Palin wasn’t teaching sex ed at home either since she doesn’t want it taught at school.

Comprehensive Sex Ed is a must in this country. Sarah Palin just proved that!

This is absolutely a family matter. Bristol made a mistake. Now she and her family are working through dealing with that. Anyone who has ever found themselves in this predicament, knows that the hardest decision to make is to keep the child. She has made that choice.
I have even more respect for Sarah Palin in light of how she has responded to this personal situation. She’s one incredible woman, and I can get behind her!
If this is how the media chooses to attack the different candidates, then it’s no wonder the people of our country have lost so much faith in the media.

Does the phase “leave family out of it” not mean anything to the media.I have chosen to turn off your station & any other news station that doesn’t want to comply with this statement.I will not watch any news coverage that involves any family bashing.I have written to every media company that I see continuing to do this kind of press.I will not help with your ratings.I feel this should be about our future leaders not their family.There are families that have to deal with this same problem at home and they deal with it the best they know how.I’m sure it is hard enough to go to school being pregnant but to have your name blasted all over our country’s news all day & night has to put more on her than needed.She has no obligation to explain anything to us.Keep her out of your press.This is my choice not to watch this kind of coverage and I hope others will follow that feel the same way.

It is very hypocritical for anyone to criticize Governer Palin or her family for her daughter’s pregnancy. As a parent you can educate your children about their choices and exercise good values in your home. At some point your children are going to go out into the world and make their own choices. A good parent is there to guide them through those choices and to support them if they make a mistake. The media is wrong to assume that in the Palin household did not have adequate discussions about premarital sex or contraceptives. They are wrong to assume that because Governor Palin thinks it that sex education should happen in the home and not in the schools, her daughter ended up pregnant. Governor Palin has done the right thing by standing by her daughter during this difficult time and not hiding her from the media. This family has chosen to embrace this child instead of taking the easy road that 1.37 million Americans are taking by having abortions. According to Planned Parenthood, in 2002, approximately 757,000 U.S. teenagers ages 15–19 became pregnant. Are all of the parents of these children bad parents? No way!! It is naïve to think our children will not make mistakes. Obama himself did drugs, an illegal substance, through high school and college. Why is no one appalled by this?

I am amazed that Gov. Palin would subject her child to this kind of scrutiny and criticism. As a mother I would do anything to protect my children and it seems to me that she had placed her own ambition and political aspirations ahead of that. It seems selfish and self-serving, not the attributes we normally associate with parenting. I do believe that women can do it al, career and home, but at what costs? Bristol’s situation and decision are her own and to be left out of the fray, but Sarah Palin’s are not. And yes if this was a man, a father of small children, one an infant, who had a pregnant teenage daughter at home I would say the same thing, his family is crying out for his time and attention.

Don’t take my tax dollars and shove abstinence down my throat when it does not even work for your own family, Sarah.

Man oh man, if Obama’s girls were teenagers and one of them was pregnant it would be a republican heyday of all heydays- they would be absolutely relentless. Hannity and O’Reilly would be slobbering all over that. The hypocrisy is so deep, this country is drowning in it.

Shame on you Amy. You cannot compare what two consenting ADULTS do to two teenagers. Edwards is not running for vice president so bringing him up is irrelevant.

As far as Bristol Palin is concerned, Obama says she’s off limits to the campaign but the media are going to drag her around like a neglected rag doll. But it’s not the daughter who should be criticized it’s her ultra-conservative mother, who apparently wasn’t aware that her child is sexually active.

Dear CNN
OK you’ve had your fun, seeking the truth and conveying it to the public. Now leave it alone and don’t wallow in it.

It’s disheartening to have “excuses” made for lack of morals in our youth. 17 unmarried and pregnant is not a reason to celebrate. What is happening to this country?

And we all know that birth control works 100% of the time.

Had this been (God forbid) one of Obama’s kids, young, single and black, would the ‘other’ party been as insightful and understanding OR as I suspect the “values” and parental oversight of their home been in question.
Double standards are rampant on this issue.

Backing off the family and the young lady, there are two positions which merit comment and comparison.

On sex ed, Gov Palin supports an “exclusionary” position. That is, abstinence-ONLY at the exclusion of other sex-ed. On the issue of teaching creationism alongside science, Gov Palin seems to be less exclusionary, saying, “Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both.” To say that both options should be taught in our schools cannot - absolutely cannot - be cast in the light of open, balanced, ecumenical thinking (as the spin-doctors would have you believe).

However, on this issue, choice is NOT an option - you either believe the world is millions of years old or you CHOOSE to ignore the advance of scientific discovery over the last century. As opposed to aspiring to have leaders in higher office that are deeply thoughtful around complex issues, on this issue at least, Gov Palin has chosen to avoid any thoughtful consideration around a pretty simple one.

I’m sure Bristol knows how a person gets pregnant. I just don’t think she thought it would happen to her like millions of other woman - young or not. I think it’s the fault of the parents to have not given her any direction or goals in life that she has all this time to screw around literally and figuratively. I’m glad the media’s all over this because usually the coverage is not as much as when it involves a Democrat.

Loretta,
If there is blame to go around lets not blame the mother but the young woman who is pregnant and I am not trying to blame anyone…

“However, her mother threw Bristol into the spotlight when she decided to accept the VP nomination. If I were 17 years old and having a baby out of wedlock , I would be so angry at my mother for doing this to me.”

Bristol is old enough to understand that her mother is in politics and should have had enough respect for herself much less her parents by putting herself and her family in this situation. So, Bristol did it to herself and there is no one else to blame.

Birth control is too good today if used correctly and if she were truly using it she most likely would not have gotten pregnant.

We can fight about our (USA) morals..or lack of, but how will the teen pregnancy play out to the world community…especially those countries that do not condone this behavior?

The WH has to project some values that represent the USA. Many of those values have been lost, but each candidate ‘expresses’ a desire to get them back.

Are we now choosing which values we will pursue, and which ones are now up for discussion?

To focus on the other side, I wonder what Mr McCain was thinking when he ask Mrs Palin to run as VP? He knew she had a 4 month baby and her young daughter was about to have a child. How do you think that conversation went? I think she’s needed at home more than the white house. If he wanted a women to run with him he should have considered her family and picked a women with no children or grown children.

No respectable parent should allow their child to be put in the spotlight like this - if this is an example of Palin’s judgement we are in big trouble

Your right on Amy - much of this all stemming from a society where women are used for a variety of purposes and it’s rare in the political arena that they can transcend that and recieve the respect they deserve.

It’s too bad John McCain didn’t use his VP selection as an opportunity to create a teachable moment for our country that a woman’s value is beyond her anatomy. Instead - he picked Palin and used her as a last ditch effort for votes. If he valued a woman beyond that - he had a field of highly experience and capable women to choose from, you arguably have a great deal more national experience than Palin…

Amy:
I agree. I also find it interesting how everyone is speculating. Who are we to judge people’s parenting skills? If the issue is Abstinence vs. Sex Ed, then let’s debate that and why did the mods have to place a pic of Bristol on this blog posting? Was that really needed? Of course, I remember when Bush’s daughters were exploited for their drinking and partying. But then again, they turned out ok. This will soon pass (I hope).

Jolene, St. Joseph, MI

oh and Nate, The Dems are not going after this issue. It is the media. There are very few Democrats that are talking about it at all. They are certainly not talking about Bristol Palin. If they are talking about it at all it because the GOP makes themselves out to be the party of higher moral values.

These things happen in all families - get over it.

Wow, Wildlife Conservationist? I guess, Elk, Pheasant and Quail hunting were easier and fundamentally more important than the Birds and the Bees. I guess its all about picking your game. Mrs. Palin has shown her choice of game isn’t bringing home the blue ribbon this time!

I have to agree with Megan. Putting Bristol on the limelight in the world’s stage is quite distasteful, although it was done in an attempt to show good taste. I am quite the believer in karma, and I believe that news like this is what John McCain exactly deserves for trying to exploit Sarah Palin’s gender and pull in the staunch Hillary supporters by bringing in some crap doppelganger. It’s funny how McCain did not even consider how this would look on the Republican party, who celebrates not having children out of wedlock, he was just concerned about the votes or whatever. Shows where the moral section of his mind is.

Hey Amy

Wake-up and smell the coffee you really thing that this 17 years old didn’t know anything about sex? Bristol knew what she was doing to bad her mother didn’t pay more attention to her. One thing all children what is the attention and love from their parents…something was lacking here. And it wasn’t SEX EDUCATION!

I think that Bristol never had that talk about sex education and the importance of contraceptives since her Mother Sarah voted against it! It’s extremely important to talk to your children about sex education and contraceptives due to the fact that aids and some many other diseases are spreading throughout our country. Sarah should of voted for sex education so the children can get the facts about having sexual encounters before marraige or just in general can change your life forever. Now you have Bristol who is pregnant to raise a child and try to continue her education with her mother in Washington. Sarah can’t keep tabs on her own home let alone this country……

It is Bristol Palin’s mother…. Sarah Palin who chose to accept the VP position knowing fully well that her daughter was an unmarried teenager. DO NOT blame the public for commenting on what Sarah Palin chose to expose her daughter to. Is she that naive to think that there would be zero political fallout from her daughter’s situation?

I am a mother and put 100% onus on Sarah Palin to have made the decision to accept John McCain’s VP offer. She chose her political ambitions over the well being of her family. To attack the public for commenting is equally naive. We don’t know this woman and everything about her matters including her poor parental choice not to protect her daughter first, political career second…

Who our we kidding I didnt learn about sex from the schools I learned from my friends in school. We cant expect to lock up or watch our children 100% of the time we can only hope that we have given them the best values we can. I would speculate that 99% of you have had sex before the age of 17 (unprotected).

This is the type moral issue is private, but when you are running for office you have to expect this type play.. i think Sarah is a good person and all that, but one would gather she hasn’t been a home much and you that happens when kids raise themselves…

Go home Sarah!!!
your family needs you your counrty don’t !!!!

Gov Palin has an 80 per cent approval. Discuss.

I have great empathy for this child being brought into the limelight for the choices she has made.

What concerns me is Palin’s mindset and her voting against sex education. Did she also believe in no sex education taught at home as well? We need to make not just choices in life, but informed choices. That was not fair to this child. This Repubican “head in the sand” mindset continues and is potentially dangerous.

Who will financially support this child? Mom? Dad? Grandma V.P.? The taxpayer? How old is dad? Is he 17 or 18 as well, so he cannot support the child? If he is a lot older than her — I do not know the statute in Alaska, but it is usually 2 or 3 years older where it would be considered statutory rape regardless of her consent.

It seems to me that the issue that should be addressed regarding Gov. Palin’s pregnant teenage daughter is not about the pregnancy itself, but about the ruthless disregard with which she dragged her daughter into the national media spotlight. She must have known that this issue would become national news when she accepted the nomination. This calls into question Palin’s judgment regarding protecting family first. It seems to me that she and McCain accepted her nomination knowing fully that she would be sacrificing her daughter and family’s privacy on this matter. If she is unwilling to exercise good judgment to protect her own daughter, what assurance do we have that she has the judgment to protect our country?

What does John Edwards have to do with this?

I have no problems with the moral issues involved with this young girl being pregnant, this should be a situation that is handled within the family unit. What I find so hypocritical and appaling is that her mother, the Vice President nominee, would release a statement saying how “proud” she is of her daughter’s decision to go through with the pregnancy. Isn’t this the same person who supports having this decision deemed illegal? I would think that there would be no choice in the matter as far as this family is concerned.

OK — Cheney’s daughter is a lesbian, the Bush girls were involved in under age drinking, and now Bristol is pregnant — I can certainly see that those firm family religious values are really strong within the Republican party. If this is what the children are up to just think about what their parents are hiding. Oh, never mind - we know what they have been doing for the past 8+ years.

Amy,

Yes, politician’s children should be off limits. But a discussion on whether sex education is necessary in this country certainly is. Sarah Palin believes that abstinence and no sex education is the way to go. Obviously, it’s not worked out well in her own family.

Bristol is fortunate to have a family that stands beside her in this difficult time. Many, many young women in America today would not be in the same supportive situation.

Not to mention those women that have been raped, or in cases of incest. If Sarah had her way, they’d be having those children, no matter what!

Is Sarah going to take support all those young women and children too?

To all of you, especially Amy
I am interested in how this Sarah Palin will get her oil on our soil. You gossipers want to talk about her daughter, who is a product of our current society. You would think that she is the first child who ever screwed up, and she did. We know she is not the first, because, why else would we have abortion laws to “help” these poor little girls and why would we have umpteen programs to support unwed mothers and illegitimate children. Her mother could have talked to her every day about birth control (and who knows for sure that she did’nt?) and the results could have been the same. Republicans have the same problems as democrats when it comes to home life. Raising kids is not easy. Talking to them does not always work, they are their own people and will make the same mistakes that generations of we the people have made. We are supposed to be a united nation, not venomous demons that throw salt in other people’s wounds. I feel sorry for Obama today, because he barely has a lead in most polls and this is going to have a negative effect on the voters. WE want to know what is going to happen in the next four years with OUR country. We already know what will happen in four months in the Palin Family….and it will have NO impact on ME or YOU. Grow up people and dig for the stuff that will help you make an educated choice in two months. Let this one go for the sake of all of the candiates.

I think if the shoe was on the other foot, and this situation was happening with barracks child, the republicans would be all over this story calling the democrats out on how they raise their children, and should america vote for a person with LOW family Morals. This whole story smells of republican posturing, by calling this family courageous for facing this head on…. Give me a break, what they are not willing to talk about is their own paries morals, because that would be hypacriticle.(spell check please) lol

I again question Palin’s judgment in considering this job when she has underage children and a special needs infant. I don’t thin she needs the money. Why would she take on a job that would make her unavailable to her kids when they most need her? How can she say that she cares so much about America, when she is considering missing the most important years of her children’s lives?

Amy, you are so wrong. This is completely relevant. The Republicans have set themselves up consistently as the party of “family values” and tried to make the rest of the world feel like residents of Sodom. I appreciate that the Repugs have to spin this, but if Young Miss Palin doesn’t know how babies are made, we all sure do and we know what she and Levi had to do to make one. Point. The youth of the Repugs take their pants off one leg at a time just like everybody else. Let’s have a dialog about that.

So HER private life is off limits for us to comment on, but when she wants for force her breed of “family values” on me or my body . . . I have to let her have her say so?????? I think not.

I can’t believe you are doing this. Her daughter is supposed to be off limits! Including her into a discussion regarding sex ed is totally crosses the line. She is not running for political office her mother is. Please leave it alone. What decision she made with her family and the young man involed are totally and completely none of my business. If you want to talk about sex ed in this country fine,but don’t do it and include a teenage girl. Respect her privacy.

So many of you have totally lost sight of the main point. Sarah Palin’s daughter is NOT the issue. It is Sarah Palin’s accomplishments we should be looking at. Here is a woman who has taken on corrupt government, almost single handedly at times, and won the battle! She has been a middle class family, like most of us, she has stepped up in different positions in government and done an incredible job for a state that was really a mess before she got in there. She cleaned house on corruption, and didn’t discriminate between parties to do it.
This may be EXACTLY what we need in Washington right now! We need to clean some house in our congress. She would do that. She’s not afraid to go up against the inner culture that has been created there.
People need to think about that. She could be the best thing that has ever happened to Washington. Everyone keep shouting they want things straightened out there. Then we get someone who can actually DO the job, and what do we do… we lambast her family and the fact that she’s what… a woman?
Obama has handled this with dignity, unlike the press. But I do have to say if one of Obama’s daughters got pregnant at an early age, you’d probably never know about it, because he has said he’d have it taken care of.

What kind of mother claims to be about family values but accepts a VP nomination knowing that it will put her teen daughter’s pregnancy in the spotlight? It’s not like Bristol got pregnant yesterday and someone dug up the story. Palin accepted the nomination, and her politics are heavily anti-abortion - and yet we’re supposed to think that her daughter’s teen pregnancy is a personal matter?

Heather wake up this is a woman who preaches about family values and is against sex education in schools but is for teaching about abstenance uuuuuhh am i missing something here its not working duh. She cant even control what is going on in her own household give me a break if this were the Obama family I think u would be singing a differtent tune.

I agree with you Amy. This is not our business. If she was not the VP candidate i don’t think this would be as big of a deal. And i’m sorry.. but to all of you out there who are stuck in the old days….premarital sex happens, accidents happen…i’m NOT saying it’s right but it’s a fact just as interracial dating is and people just need to get used to it! It will be a task for Sarah to do the VP thing and help be the mother she needs to be with her daughter at this time…but if she didn’t think she could handle it, i don’t think she would’ve accepted it. Stop criticizing her and her daughter….this is completely not our business! We don’t criticize every pregnant teen out their and her mother do we? Not all of those situations are brought to the public as this is is it? Why this one? Why now? It’s just something else to stick our nose in when it don’t belong there.

You say that this is a personal matter, and it’s none of our business, but I disagree. I’m sure it must be tough to be 17 and pregnant, I can’t imagine how awful she must feel. But at the same time, Sarah Palin knowingly put her daughter in the spotlight when she accepted the VP nomination. Sarah Palin should have known that her anti-abortion stance, and abstinence only views would cause controversy. Especially since her teenage daughter is now pregnant.

Look, teens are going to have sex, and we need to educate them. Teach them about STD’s and the proper use of condoms. Maybe if we addressed the issue instead of ignoring it, teen pregnancy wouldn’t be so high. If you take a look at Sweden and the Netherlands, sex ed is taught at a young age, and the teen pregnancy/STD rates are the lowest in the world.

And might I remind you, the media most definitely (and quite enthusiastically) covered Edwards personal life. So, it kind of sounds hypocritical when some in the media are saying hands off. Where was the media’s outrage when the Bush twins were called drunks, and Chelsea Clinton was called ugly. One can’t pick and choose which politicians private lives are off limits. Either you cover them all, or you cover none.

By the way, John McCain is the last one to be outraged about personal attacks on children. Especially considering this “joke” he made in June 1998 at a Republican dinner. “Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.” Class act John, Class act.